Pets can be donors, too. Helping other precious pets to live on...

This is a sensitive subject, but worth airing I think. My dog Larry is getting to be an old boy now and at some point, I know, 'that day' will come. Hopefully not for a good while yet . I myself am registered as an organ donor and the other day I started to wonder whether pets can also be donors, after their death, to help other pets in need. They can! Not just dogs...cats also. I have registered Larry as a pet donor because one day, no amount of tears will bring him back to me, but there may be some comfort in knowing that he is helping other dogs to live their lives. Veterinary Tissue Bank is the organisation which enabled me to register Larry...here is the link, in case anyone else feels like they might want to explore the possibility of their pet becoming a tissue donor in the fullness of time. vtbank.org/ There is also a Facebook page. Once registered, your vet is made aware of your wishes, so that when the time comes, he or she can make the necessary arrangements. There are of course some causes of death and prior conditions which preclude your pet from becoming a donor, but these are on the website, so that you know. Your pet will be respectfully treated and his or her remains can be cremated and returned to you once VTB has retrieved the tissue which can be used to help other pets. I hope that no-one is upset or offended by this post...I didn't know about VTB until yesterday and I am guessing that many others are equally unaware of it's existence. Just so that everyone is clear...Larry the Lurcher is fine, just getting on in years...I am simply thinking ahead as it would be a hard decision to make out of the blue, without some prior information and time to consider, when the time comes!